JOHN DENISON BALDWIN 






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MEMORIAL 



JOHN DENISON BALDWIN 



MINISTER, LEGISLATOR AND JOURNALIST. 



By SAMUEL eV S T A P L E S . 



WORCESTER: 
Pkinted by Daniel, Seagkave, 

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MAY 1916 



Hon. JOHN D. BALDWIN, A. M. 



One after another of the pioneers in the Anti-Slavery and Free 
Soil agitation, which has resulted in a regenerated country, where 
all men are now accounted free and equal before the law, are rapid- 
ly passing away, and they hereafter will be remembered by what 
they have done; a remembrance, not to be despised, but on the 
contrary, to be cherished and revered while time shall last. 

In this great movement, the public press exerted untold in- 
fluence in bringing to a final issue, results wonderful and grand, 
which guarantee freedom to all who dwell within our borders, 
whether native born or aliens from a foreign laud, where freedom 
to the subject exists only in name, if it exists at all. 

Among those who were early engaged in this work of renewal 
and regeneration, was Joh.v Denison Baldwin, a man who never 
faltered in the performance of any duty laid upon him, and which 
to him was made clear, and was supported by the right. He had 
the " courage of his convictions," and this trait of his character 
never failed him through a long and useful career. 

Mr. Baldwin was born at North Stoningtou, Conn., September 
28, 1809, and died at Worcester, July 8, 1883, aged 73 years, 9 
months, and 10 days. 

He was married April 3, 1832 to Lemira Hathaway, daughter 
of Captain Ebenezer Hathaway, of Dighton, Mass., who, with two 
of their four children, survives him. Two daughters died before 
the removal of the family to Worcester. 

He was the oldest son of Daniel and Hannah (Stanton) Baldwin, 
of North Stoningtou, Connecticut. The family had been prominent 
in the state almost from i;s 1. rst settlement, the earliest ancestor 
having arrived in New Haven in 1638. His progenitors had been 
men of substance among the gentry of Buckinghamshire, Eng- 
land, for centuries. 



His father, Daniel Baldwin, was born at Stonington, May 21, 
1783, and died October, 28, 1855. His third wife, Hannah Stan- 
ton, to whom he was married April 21, 1808, was the daughter of 
Captain Nathaniel Stanton of Groton, Conn. She died March 19, 
1877, at the advanced age of 91 years, and 8 days. 

When the subject of this sketch was seven years old, the family 
removed to Chenango county, New York, which at that time, was 
a wilderness and more inaccessible than the far West of our coun- 
try today. Here they remained for seven years, and during this 
time was acquired that fondness for Held sports which Mr. Baldwin 
retained during his life, though but seldom gratified in his later 
years. 

The family returned to North Stonington, in 1823, and there he 
began to apply himself with great diligence in the pursuit of an 
education, and with such success that at the age of seventeen he be- 
came a public school teacher and maintained, at the same time his 
place in one of the classes of Yale College. He did not. however, 
complete the college course in regular order ; but pursued his studies 
from time to time while engaged in other duties. He began the 
study of law, but soon abandoned it for theology. He preached for 
awhile to a Methodist congregation, but later, entered the Yale 
Divinity School, where he completed the theological course in 
1834. He received the honorary degree of Master of Arts, from 
Yale College in 1839 

He was ordained to the work of the Christian ministry at West 
Woodstock, Conn., September 3, 1834, where he preached till July 
25, 1837. He was afterwards settled at North Branford, Conn., 
from January 17, 1838 to May 1845, and at North Killingly, from 
April 29, 1846, to September 17, 1849. Mr. Baldwin is still re- 
membered by the older people to whom he ministered as a vigorous 
preacher, and a man of sagacity and public spirit. A writer in the 
New Haven Palladium said of him soon after his death, " that he 
was full of all kinds of queer information that he wrought into his 
sermons, so that it set young folks a thinking. Then he loved pets 
of all kinds, and could talk with us about them, asking us as though 
he wished to learn from us, and making us respect ourselves and 
him too." 



Mr. Baldwin acquired the French and German languages, and 
by 1844 had begun to give special attention to archaeology and its 
bearing upon the current schemes of ancient history. 

He was alive to the march of improvement, and was interested 
in scientific rese irches. He was among the first, as an amateur, 
to produce pictures by the Daguerreotype process, some of which 
are still extant. 

While the pastor of the church at North Killingly, he was elected 
to the legislature of Connecticut as a Free Soil member, and as 
Chairman of the Committee on Education he reported a bill for 
the establishment of Normal Schools, a subject which had been 
under consideration for ten years ; having been agitated and dis- 
cussed for years previous by Gallaudet, Barnard, and others, with 
much earnestness, but the subject was -not brought to a final issue 
till the year. 1850, when the bill presented by Mr. Baldwin be 
came a law, and the first Normal School of Connecticut was 
soon in successful operation. He was chosen a member of the 
first Board of Trustees upon whom devolved the location of the. 
school. 

The late Rev. Merrill Richardson, at that time a resident of 
Terryville, in Conn., was actively engaged for some years in the 
work of preparing the minds of the people for this useful, and now 
considered necessary instrumentality, in the educational system of 
schools ; and added greatly, by his voice and pen, in promoting and 
bringing to a successful issue this important work. 

While a member of the legislature, Mr. Baldwin was influential 
also in organizing the Free Soil party, being in sympathy and ac- 
tive co-operation with the men of his time who regarded chattel 
slavery as the great sin of the nation and a revolting crime against 
humanity, that must be removed and blotted out forever. In the 
furtherance of this object, the better to carry out his principles upon 
this subject, and to exert an influence beyond what the individual 
alone could do, from that time he turned his attention from the 
ministry to journalism. He succeeded William H. Burleigh in the 
publication of the Free Soil newspaper, The Charter Oak, printed 
in Hartford, which afterwards became known as the Republican. 

His interest in the Republican began in 1849, and continued till 
1852, when he left Hartford for Boston, to assume control of the 



6 

Dai 7 y Commonwealth newspaper, being a joint owner with Wil- 
liam Claflin. John B, Alley, Dr. Samue] G. Howe and William 
Spooner. This arrangement continued for five years. The paper 
was afterwards known at the Daily Telegraph, and was subsequent- 
ly merged in the grand consolidation of several newspapers with 
the Traveller. 

It was the intention of the buyers to establish a daily, after the 
style of the leading New York papers, but for some reason this 
project was abandoned after the consolidation had been effected. 

While in the management of the Commonwealth , some notable 
persons were constant visitors at the olfice, and other men, since 
become noted, were occupied upon die paper. William S. Rob- 
inson was assistant editor, Charles W. Slack, city editor, and ltobert 
Carter was one of the principal writers. 

Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson and Theodore Parker were al- 
most daily visitors, the Commonwealth office being regarded as 
their headquarters. 

For a while Mr. Baldwin was owner and editor of the Cambridge 
Chronicle, but he disposed of his interest in this paper after a few 
months, and in 1851), in company with his sons, John Stanton and 
Charles Clinton, bought the Worcester Daily and Weekly Spy, aid 
continu(jd his interest in this establishment during the remainder of 
his life. 

Through all these years he was the responsible head of the 
editorial department, though for the last two or three years he gave 
up office work, but occasionally wrote leading articles for his paper, 
Mr. Baldwin was a clear and forcible writer, and no one would be 
likely to mistake his meaning. He was sincere in his statements 
and always reliable. As a journalist he exerted much influence, 
and it is safe to say, that it, was always upon the side of right and 
justice. 

At the time Mr. Baldwin assumed control of the Spy, it was not 
in a flourishing condition, having passed out of the hands of Mr. 
Earle, who for many years was its principal editor, and who gave 
to the paper great influence during the period of the Free Soil 
agitation. Mr. Baldwin, by his skillful and laborious labors soon 
restored its prosperity, and acquired for the paper a renewed aud 
extended influence which did not fail of speedy recognition. 



Mr. Baldwin's deep and abiding interest in the question of free 
soil and a free people led him to look carefully to the politic il is- 
sues of his time. Having become a representative man, and being 
extensively known through his journalistic work, he was selected 
as a delegate to the Republican National Convention of 18G0, 
where his ability and influence received that recognition which was 
due to him ; at his suggestion, Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, was 
nominated as Vice-President, on the ticket with Abraham Lincoln. 
The results of this election, how wonderful, how grand ! 

Mr. Baldwin's reputation as a sagacious political counsellor, and 
his services to the party by his pen and otherwise, suggested his 
nomination for Congress in 1862, and he was elected by a large 
majority a Representative in the thirty-eighth Congivss, and by a 
still greater preponderance of votes was re-elected to the thirty- 
ninth and fortieth. During his service in Congress he was a mem- 
ber of the committees on Expenditures, on Public Buildings, on 
the District of Columbia, on Printing, and on the Library. He was 
not a frequent speaker, but diligent and thorough in his committee 
work and in the service of his constituents. In his last term, as a 
member of the Committee on the Library, he attacked the difficult 
problem of international copyright, and his report and speeches on 
that subject attracted much attention. The exciting political events 
of that time distracted die attention of Congress from that subject, 
and his bill made no progress, but his name will always be asso- 
ciated with the history of the agitation for the rights of authors. 

It is a somewhat, remarkable fact, undisputed I think, that he 
was the only literary man in the thirty-ninth Congress. His 
tastes led him to be a frequent visitor to the library where he 
found much to aid him in the pursuit of those studies concerning 
the ancient peoples and civilizations of a pre-historic period, a study 
in which he liked to dwell, and the results of which, he gave to 
the world in a volume entitled, " Pre-historic Nations ; or In- 
quiries concerning some of the Great Peoples and Civilizations of 
Antiquity, and their Probable Relations to a still Older Civiliza- 
tion of the Ethiopians or Cushites of Arabia." This work was is- 
sued in 1869. 

In 1872, was published his work concerning another portion of 
the field of archaeological research, under the title of " Ancient 



8 

America, in Notes on American Archaeology," its purpose being to 
give a summary of what is known of American antiquities, with 
some thoughts and suggestions relative to their significance. This 
volume grew out of a series of papers originally prepared for the 
Spy. It has had a large circulation and much influence in direct- 
ing attention to the interesting and mysterious remains of the 
earlier races on this continent. 

These works do not profess to be the result of original investi- 
gation among the primitive sources of knowledge on those subjects. 
They are in part compilations of material not readily accessible to 
most readers, and in part the author's speculations, ingenious and 
plausible in the main, not presented as fact, but as probable con- 
jee: ures, which, if accepted, would explain much that is obscure, 
mysterious, or taken literally, impossible. 

Mr. Baldwin, also, took great interest in genealogical inquiries 
and published the following works upon this subject. 

In 1880, "A Record of the Descendants of John Baldwin of Ston- 
ington, Conn., with notices of other Baldwins who settled in Amer- 
ica in Early Colonial Times." This was followed in 1881, by 
" A Record of the Descendants of Capt. George Denison of Ston- 
ington, Conn., prepared by Mr. Baldwin and Rev. William Gift." 

In 1882, he published his last work on this subject, under the 
title of" Thomas Stanton of Stonington, Conn., an incomplete rec- 
ord of his descendants." 

He also furnished a large amount of material for the Baldwin 
Genealogy, compiled by Charles Candee Baldwin, of Cleveland, 
Ohio, which was published in 1881. 

The collection of these family records appears to have been a 
favorite pursuit with him during the later years of his life, and in 
which he spent much time and took great delight. From what we 
know of the man, however, this was not done so much to gratify 
his taste and inclination, and the enjoyment it afforded, but to gather 
together the facts of family history, that others who should come 
after him might receive the benefit of his labors, 

"While Mr. Baldwin was not a rapid writer, yet by close applica- 
tion, he wrote much, and has left behind him a literary record that 
any man might coret. lie was, also, at some periods of his life a 
large contributor to the Quarterlies and Magazines. 



9 

Among his published addresses were the following : 

*' Lessons from the Grave. A Discourse delivered in North 
Branford, June 12, 1842, and occasioned by the Death of Dea. 
Daniel Wheadon." 

Speech on " State Sovereignty and Treason," delivered in the 
House of Representatives, Washington, March 5, 18G4, the House 
being in Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union. 

Speech, " Congress and Reconstruction," delivered in the House 
of Representatives, April 7, 1866, 

Speech, " Human Rights and Human Races," delivered in the 
House of Representatives, January 11, 1868, in reply to a speech 
of Hon. James Brooks, of New York, on the Negro Race. 

Mr. Baldwin possessed a genius for the beautiful, whether in 
nature, art, or poetry, and it is to be regretted that he so seldom 
gave expression to his finer sentiments in verse. The clearness of 
his statement, the purity of his language, and the force of ex- 
pression, cannot fail to be admired. But, in the later years of his 
life he found little opportunity in which to gratify the poetic 
taste, and in earlier life, but infrequently wrote in verse. 

I have purposely omitted to mention till the last, his first venture 
in book-making. This was a collection of poems issued in 1847, 
when he was thirty -eight years of age, entitled, " The Story of Ray- 
mond Hill and other Poems" and was published by William D. 
Ticknor & Company of Boston. This little work is " dedicated to 
Mrs. Mary Howitt, of England, in token of admiration for her char- 
acter, and gratitude for the pleasure derived from her volumes." 
In the preface he says : " These poems are firstlings. They are 
published, not because I suppose they have any very extraordinary 
merit, nor because I have no hope of writing something better ; 
but because I think they will find friendly readers, and, imperfect 
as they are, do something to encourage others to love Truth and 
Beauty, — and love them, not as abstractions merely, but as realities 
to be felt and manifested all along the ways of human life." 

The following is selected from his miscellaneous poems ; and, as 
it shows so finely, both the style and the spirit of the author, is 
here reproduced for the benefit of such as may be permitted to read 
this brief memorial of one, whose tender sympathies are therein 
eo beautifully expressed. 



10 
THE CHILD'S GRAVE. 



Sleep, little one! the summer winds are breathing 

A gentle hymn, to lull thy quiet rest; 
Around thy tomb, with mournful beauty wreathing, 

The ivy creeps, in freshening verdure drest. 

Sleep on, my love, the summer flowers are springing, 
In holy peace, above thy mouldering head, 

To guard thy dust, and from their bosoms Hinging 
A mingled sweetness o'er thy silent bed. 

We miss thee, love ! thy joyous face, once blushing 
With rosy light, death-shades have overcast ; 

And ah ! how olt these heart-felt tears are gushing, 
To think our eyes on thee have looked their last. 

We miss those hours, when thro' our hearts was stealing 

The merry music of thy fairy feet; 
We mis> those hours, when every pulse of feeling 

Thrilled quick and warm, thy trusting eyes to greet. 

We miss our babe, when evening gathers round us; 

Thy place is vacant on thy mother's breast 1 
We wake no more to feel the spell that bound us, 

When, once, to ours thine infant lips were pressed! 

Sleep, blessed one! no more for us awaking! 

The worm feeds sweetly on our faded flower; 
We laid thee here; but, oh, our hearts were breaking — 

Breaking to feel Death's unrelaxing power. 

Where art thou now? the soul, that once was pouring, 
Through this still dust, a quick, mysterious glow, 

Lives somewhere yet; it vanished, heavenward soaring, 
Far from all pain and blight, all earthly woe. 

Where dost thou dwell? It must be thou art wearing 
A radiant light, on thy enfranchised soul, 

In some bright world, thy part with angels bearing, 
Where hymns of holy joy forever roll. 

To that deep life, God's love hath surely borne thee, 

Our cherished one ! — nor seek we to reclaim ; 
How much we loved, how much we miss and mourn thee, 
He knows alone— and blessed be his name! 



11 

The last time, it is believed, that Mr. Baldwin appeared before a 
public assembly, as a speaker, was at Mechanics Hall, June 24, 
1878, at the exercises attending the re-interment of the remains of 
Isaiah Thomas, when he read a very interesting account of the la- 
bors of Mr. Thomas in the work of the Revolution. 

This address received well merited praise, and was alike credit- 
able to the writer and the occasion. 

Mr. Baldwin was a member of the American Oriental Society of 
New Haven, Conn., established in 1843. He was elected a mem- 
ber of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society, April 22, 
1868 ; of the American Antiquarian Society, October 21, ISC'J ;:uid 
an Honorary member of The Worcester Society of Antiquity, Jau- 
uary 2, 1877. 

In his letter of acceptance to the latter society, after expression 
of thanks for its good will, and the honor conferred, he said : " I 
have full sympathy with the aims of your Society, and I shall find 
special pleasure in doing what I can to aid it in promoting these 
aims. I should rejoice to see the disposition to ' remember the days 
that are past,' and to collect for preservation, memorials of the past 
generations, much more prevalent than it is now." 

One who knew him most intimately, wrote this just tribute to 
his memory. 

"Mr. Baldwin was a man of imposing stature, much exceeding 
six feet in height, of large frame and great muscular strength. In 
his early manhood, his massive head, erect figure and stalwart pro- 
portions, indicative of activity and power, gave him an aspect of 
uncommon force, and dignity. His mind, like his body, was large 
and vigorous. His political sagacity was highly esteemed by those 
who had long been associated with him. Though so much of a 
recluse, especially in his later years, he knew human nature well, 
and could foresee with great accuracy the political effect of any 
measure or event. His election forecasts were in general singular- 
ly near the truth, and his judgment of men, their character, capa- 
bilities and popularity, was rarely at fault. His advice in political 
matters was often sought and was highly valued. It was delivered 
confidently but without arrogance, and more than once those who 
had refused to be guided by it at an important juncture had cause 



12 

to regret that it had been rejected. As a writer Mr. Baldwin was 
direct, clear and forcible. His style had no ornament. It was 
sometimes rugged, but always strong and sincere. His wide range 
of reading and retentive memory gave him a vast store of facts, and 
his knowledge of political history was especially large and accurate. 
But though his profession of journalism kept his mind occupied much 
with such subjects, his favorite pursuit was the study of antiquity, 
both the dim past of which authentic history gives only hints and 
suggestions, and the less remote, but almost as difficult, field of fam- 
ily genealogy to which most of his latest years, while his health al- 
lowed, was devoted." 

I should do injustice to myself, and the distinguished man, whose 
life I have attempted briefly to portray, did I not give place in this 
memorial to his contemporaries in journalism who knew him so 
long, and so well, and whose words are more appreciative and suit- 
able than any I can express. The following extracts from various 
sources, show his character and qualities, as a minister, a legislator 
and a journalist, in a manner that will commend them to all, who, 
may read this imperfect sketch of the life of a noble man. 



There are men in Connecticut who have not forgotten the Hon. 
John D. Baldwin. His connection with our state politics in 1848- 
49-50, and along in those years, will be remembered by those who 
remember the Free Soil party and its influence in this state. Mr. 
Baldwin was a conscientious abolitionist, who at one time was the 
conductor of The Charter Oak, the old Connecticut organ of the free 
soilers. He was respected as an honest man, and he had more 
aptitude for practical politics than his predecessor, Mr. Burleigh. — 
Hartford Times. 

By the death of John Denison Baldwin, for so many years the 
chief editor of the Worcester Spy, the press of Massachusetts has 
lost one of its oldest, as well as the most honored, of its represen- 
tatives. — Lowell Citizen. 

The editorial fraternity of New England will lament the death of 
the venerable John D. Baldwin, senior editor and proprietor of the 
Worcester Spy. A man of the highest character, a self-educated 



13 

man of broad scholarship, earnest in the cause of human rights in 
the days when it required courage as well as convictions to be an 
abolitionist, his life work has been long, honorable and useful, and 
he goes to his reward leaving to all who knew him or have felt his 
influence a blessed memory. — * Hartford Courant. 

He was a patriarch among the journalists of the state, venerable 
in years and dignified in manners, and was respected alike for his 
ability, his integrity and his fearless support of his principles. — 
Boston Traveller. 

Mr. Baldwin had distinguished himself during a busy life by suc- 
cessful labors as a minister, a journalist and a legislator, and devoted 
the well-earned leisure of his later years to valuable historic studies. 
Among the veteran editors and public men of New England his 
name held a deservedly high place. — Providence Journal. 

Mr. Baldwin led a laborious life. If he was not a brilliant editor 
he was a useful one. In his earlier days he was not afraid of the 
anti-slavery agitation, when many of his confreres hesitated to speak 
out boldly. He was a pioneer free soiler when it did not pay to 
speak for human rights, and happily he lived to see slavery abol- 
ished and every foot of our national domain consecrated forever to 
freedom. Pie rests from his labors and his works do follow him. 
— Springfield Union. 

Another veteran New England journalist has gone to his rest. 
The H m. John D. Baldwin of the Worcester Spy died suddenly at 
his home in that city on Sunday morning. In every position which 
he has ever held, whether as minister of the gospel, state or nation- 
al legislator, or journalist, he has performed honorable service. 
Although during his later years he has devoted his time to histori- 
cal studies rather than to the active duties of journalism, he will be 
greatly missed by his brethren in the profession throughout New 
England. — Providence Press. 

The Hon. John D. Baldwin, who died in Worcester on Sunday, 
was for several years a man of large and useful influence in the 
city in which he lived, in the state, and in the nation. Beginning 
life as a clergyman, he became an editor, and as such, was distin- 
guished for good sense and steadfastness of principle, rather than 



14 

for brilliancy, although he was a good writer. He always seemed 
to regard a newspaper rather as a means of publishing sound 
opinions, and so influencing men's minds, than as an organ of news. 
For sensational reporter's work, and much of tlte product of modern 
journalistic enterprise, he never had much favor. lie was a man 
of wide information and cultivated intelligence, who had strong 
likes and dislikes, and he did his editorial work with a conscientious 
fidelitj r . He was a sturdy politician and a sagacious one ; but he 
had a fondness for studies which were wholly alien to politics, and 
which kept him in sympathy with scholarly men and literary aims. 
lie was always kindly to young men, and very willing to aid those 
who had a worthy ambition with good counsel and substantial ser- 
vice. In the earlier days of his career as journalist he was asso- 
ciated with the leaders of the Free Soil party, and made acquaint- 
ances which were long continued. lie became editor of the Spy at 
a time when its fortunes had been wrecked, and to his steady in- 
dustry, business capacity, and power as a writer, its survival and 
development into one of the best of the papers issued in the smaller 
cities of the country is due. During the war period and the period 
of reconstruction he was one of the trusted leaders of the repub- 
lican party in this state, and his predilections were always in favor 
of a bold and radical policy. He was more conservative in methods 
than in opinions. Among the latest acts of his active participation 
in affairs was his earnest work in the movement which resulted in 
sending Bristow delegates from Massachusetts to tdie national con- 
vention of 1876. In recent years he has withdrawn himself from 
the strife of affairs, and left the conduct of the paper to his sons 
and their assistants, whom he had selected, being able to pass the 
evening of his days in comfortable leisure, craving little society be- 
yond that of his family and his favorite books. — Boston Advertiser. 



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